PARIS – Firing up its movie production capacity, European film-TV powerhouse Studiocanal has appointed Matthew Gledhill as senior vice-president, International Production to act as executive producer on international feature films produced in-house by Studiocanal.

Gledhill will also take direct oversight of titles produced by Brussels-based Studiocanal company nWave Pictures. Headed by Ben Stassen, nWave Pictures has produced Stassen’s co-directed “Robinsoe Crusoe” and “House of Magic.”

The appointment effectively gives Studiocanal two international movie producers with Ron Halpern, EVP International Production & Acquisitions retaining his current role oversseing Studiocanal’s entuire slate of international productions, including an executive producer role on international films developed with external producers. Halpern will also remain responsible for co-ordinating international acquisitions for all Studiocanal territories, as well as sourcing and developing new movie projects. Both Halpern and Gledhill will report to Studiocanal chairman-CEO Didier Lupfer.

In a third executive move, Danny Perkins, CEO of Studiocanal UK, has also been charged with responsibility for U.K. production, securing British talent, and further growing Studiocanal’s policy of producing U.K.-focused movies.

Gledhill’s appointment and Perkins new official oversight show Studiocanal, owned by Vivendi’s Canal Plus Group, and already, making moves to make good on Vincent Bollore’s vision of Vivendi developing into one of Europe’s principal contents groups, producing signature TV, often built on brands- whether characters, novels or creators – which can stem churn at the Canal Plus in France, though not all will be screened by the Gallic paybox giant, and prove lynchpin premium appointment product for pay TV/SVOD operators in Europe and beyond.

“We’re delighted to welcome Matthew, who has been producing films for 15 years and also has experience in directing movies. His arrival will strengthen an already robust team, which, under Ron’s leadership, has allowed Studiocanal to become a global benchmark in the production of high-quality European films, capable of attracting some of the biggest talent our continent has to offer,” said Didier Lupfer.

“Matthew will bring Studiocanal complementary skills that will help us build on the momentum and take the company a step further in its development,” he added.

Producing and co-producing, often fully-financing movies’ net budgets, distributing movies in the U.K., France, Germany and Australia/New Zealand and operating one of Europe most go-to sales companies, Studiocanal has already grown into Europe’s biggest movie investor punching profit margins big enough for it to be highlighted in Vivendi reports as one of the conglom’s growth drivers.

Now it wants more. The emphasis on in-house production, already in place at the will also see Studiocanal approaching more producers with projects. A lynchpin executive at Studiocanal, Halpern has been key in developing production-financing alliances with key producers in the U.S., such as Joel Silver, producer of “Non Stop” or in the U.K., with David Heyman (“Paddington”), Aardman (“Shaun the Sheep,” now “Early Man”) and Working Title (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”). Variety revealed last week that Studiocanal has boarded Tony Jawinski’s suspense-thriller “Transatlantik,” produced with the Picture Company and Circle of Confusion. Studiocanal now has two execs to fire up talent relationships, the key to content growth.

A highly respected and liked executive in the U.K. production community, Perkins’ oversight of local production sees Studiocanal , rather like Hollywood studios, not demanding huge international potential of a movie project in order to invest in a title. Perkins expanded role looks like good news for first-time U.K. feature talent and producers of more redolently local British fare.

Gledhill’s producer credits include David Oelhoffen’s debut, “Far From Men,” with Viggo Mortensen. He produced Yann Samuell’s “The War of the Buttons,” also produced by Studiocanal chairman-CEO Didier Lupfer, and acted as a supervising producer on “Gainsbourg: a Heroic Life,” produced by Lupfer.